Margaret Hackney asks the court "to settle" fifteen slaves "upon your oratrix for her separate use & enjoyment free from the molestation & hindrance" of her husband, Joseph Hackney. Margaret explains that, "at the age of about 70 years and without any children," she found herself beseeched by said Hackney to exchange her "solitary and Lonely" condition for "his protection as her Husband." Unwilling to give up "the power of disposition" of her slaves, to whom she was "much attached," she desired a marriage contract securing the same "for her separate and sole use during their marriage." Believing that such a contract "looked like the parties had no confidence in one another," Joseph promised Margaret that, if she agreed to marry him, he would convey the slaves to her "the very next week after their marriage." Margaret consented and the couple married. She now complains, however, that Joseph has reneged on his promise, grown "ill & fractious," abused her repeatedly, and threatens to "run the negroes off & sell them." She asks the sheriff to attach her slaves and to deliver them safely to a receiver, who will hire them out until the final determination of the suit.
Result: Partially granted; denied.
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Repository: Maury County Historical Society Loose Records Project, Columbia, Tennessee
